Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-04-25
Gaaies' Column.
Which side do You Take.


dresses Of the gifted pastor.
J The president of the social committee,
/ a thoroughly good woman, who made no
class distinctions among those whom God
calls one family, charged the ladies who
formed the committee to ''speak to every
stranger present, if possible. If you
don't know their names, then introduce
yourselves, and ask them to do the same,
then see that they are made acquainted
with some other members of the church. F"
With this in view, Miss Allen and Miss
Bennett. members of the committee, walk
ed up and down the rows of seats, speak
ing TO friends and strangers alike Com
ing to a group of young women Miss Al
len recognized among them one who came
regularly to her Bible class.
She introduced her friend, Miss Ben
net, and pleasantly asked to be introduced
to those of the group who were strangers
TO her, and they chatted together some
moments. Presently Miss Bennett asked:
Are you acquainted with any of the
people here?"
NO, we are strangers here" one of the
girls replied, I'VE have only been in the
city few weeks, but we are all from the
same neighborhoOd, and so chum with
one another"
''Well, come over to that seat opposite
and I'll introduce you to those pleasant
looking people sitting there" said Miss
Bennett.
Two of the girls arose, but the others
excused themselves, feeling shy among so
many strangers.
Miss Bennett was surprised to notice
the change that came over Miss Allen,
net took her new acquaintance across
the room and introduced them to some of
the church members who were near, and
who at once made place beside them for
the strangers.
As soon as Miss Allen could draw her
friend aside, she said in tone that de
noted great displeasure:
You shouldn't have brought those
girls over and introduced them to the
Shermans, they may feel insulted- You
al L4AAAAA- NP PSCPAC wv null IAAOoC
girls are nothing but servants"
Miss Bennets face flushed as she re
piled:
If you think it was an insult TO the
Shermans to have an introduction to
those girls, I don't see why I shouldn't
consider myself insulted as well by being
introduced to them by you; 1 don't feel
insulted, mind, but if they are not lit for
the Shermans to speak to, it seems as if
you have placed me too low in the social
scale"
''Oh, it was different to go round and
speak to them, to what it is to have them
brought over to be introduced
Il don't see why" replied Miss Ben
net. Our president particularly request
ed US to make the strangers known to the
church members, these socials were got
up expressly for that purpose, and not
for the benefit of the members of the con
gregation, and l think that those who are
afraid to come in contact with those ex-
pressly invited here, had better stay at
home"
'.Oh, well, 1 don't mind coming here
and helping in a certain way, but I'm not
going to mix up with kitchen girls as if
they were friends" SAID Miss Allen,
scornfully.
DO you consider that kitchen work is
so degrading that it lowers those who
perform it?7 inquired Miss Bennett
NO. not exactly" replied Miss Allen,
thinking what that might imply. seeing
that she herself was obliged to perform
many of the household duties in her own
home. but l don't think that respectable
people should mix up with servants ike
you would have them"
I'VE are all servants in some way if it
comes to that" replied Miss Bennett,
s.but | nave an idea that many Of the hired
girls are quite as respectable as the peO-
pie who have hired them, and can boast
of a. many respectable connections as
their miStresSeS.
That may be, but when girls go to
service they can't help but lower them
selves. no one wants TO make friends with
the girls in the Kitchen
'NA4r VIC AC NeloblAAS- tiiAiC NSeANAii@
but I'd ike you to know how feel in the
matter | consider that if kitchen work
is degrading. then any one who has to do
it is disgraced in the same degree as the
girl who is hired to perform it. Some of
the best women in our church have to
help the girl in the kitchen, and if the
girls leave suddenly, as some of them do,
then they have to do the whole of it, even
to the washing of pots and pans, so ac-
cording to your logic they are not fit to
speak to while they are performing the
duties they would be glad enough to pay
some one else to undertake. If the stand
ard of social life is to be measured by the
distance one keeps from the kitchen, then
I'm inclined to think that there are not
many in our church who stand very high
in the social scale. I have worked in the
kitchen long enough to know what has to
be done there and how to do it, but for
all that l don't consider that I have de-
graded myself by doing so, and I'm in
cIined 70 think that even you, with all
your high notions, would scarcely hold
the wealthy Miss Lawson in contempt,
though you know that she was obliged to
90 into the kitchen herself. and with her
own white hands prepare the dishes she
promised for this very social. 1t is such
sentiments as you express that makes
good girls dislike TO hire out in families,
but a good girl, who conscientiously per-
forms her duties, and endeavors to please
her mistress in everything, is entitled to
the respect she deserves, and is by no
means degraded just because her work
lies in the kitchen. But come, we must
help pass round the refreshments. =
CkriStidB at HOTk.
Table Etiquette.
Why Is it that many mothers neglect
this important element in the training of
their children? How often is it that ones
whole meal is made unpleasant by some